Soldier salutes dad on Father's Day

Col. Daniel Taylor of the Florida National Guard has lived his whole life in St. Augustine, raising five children and watching all but one follow in his path and join the armed forces.

But when he wakes up this morning, all of his children will be on American soil, including his baby girl Amanda, 20, the youngest of his children and last to join the National Guard.

Although two of his sons -- Jason and Matthew -- are in the National Guard, they have not been mobilized to distant lands in their careers. Taylor's other sons are Donnie and Mark.

Taylor, who has been in the National Guard for 39 years, 34 of which he worked full time, was never mobilized.

When word came that Amanda was needed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to work in the finance department for the Army, making sure soldiers were paid and helping when problems arose, her decision to join the military weighed hard for a time. She was away from home between August 2002 and February of this year.

"Saying goodbye and her going off for a while, it was a little emotional," said Taylor, 57. "When it happens, it happens, and you've got to go."

But this morning he will be greeted by Amanda with a hug and a kiss. And he takes pride in knowing she chose the course of the military because it was what she wanted to do and accomplished her goal.

Amanda went to basic training in August 2001, in Fort Jackson, S.C. Her first day of qualifications with an M-16 was on Sept. 11, 2001, the start of a new era in the war on terror. Despite the uncertainties of that day and the future that lay ahead, all Amanda wanted was to work hard for her father.

"What I'm focused on is I want to make my dad proud," she said.

And watching his daughter on her day of graduation was saying goodbye to the little girl who once wore a T-shirt that said, "If you think I'm cute, you should see my dad."

But the love for her father remains strong, and she calls him her role model, a religious man, and a giving father.

Amanda's mother, Joan, said her husband tried to be Amanda's inspiration growing up, and her success so far shows it has paid off. "He encouraged her -- you can do what you want to do," Joan said.

Taylor said his family is strong and he is a proud father. He said he never demanded his children join the military, but believes it is a noble occupation that teaches valuable lessons about life. "I never pushed any of my kids to get into the military, but they saw me in uniform every day."

He said having Amanda home instead of in a distant land will make this Father's Day all the more special.

"She's proven herself, as have the other kids," said Taylor. "They're good citizens, good Christians. I'm proud to have them as my children."